Photograph as Performance

I chose Mary Ellen Mark's photograph of these 2 children because it expresses a lot and it could be interpreted as a performance. I think that the little girl smoking the cigarette was obviously set up and that is much of what makes this a performitive photograph. Also, with the little girl seated in the pool the way she is, just looking at the viewer and probably wondering what the other girl is doing. They are very different children, or at least it seems that way. Even though Mark Ellen Mark typically documents people, circus performers, street performers, etc, she still makes her something other than a documentation of a performance. I feel as though she makes it a bit personal to the viewer. I love her work, and this photo especially. She took what may have been your average 8-10 year old girl and turned her into a different character, just by what she is wearing, or the lack therof, and giving her a cigarette. Also, the fact that the other little girl sitting down is wearing a tee shirt while the other little girl is in a bikini.